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Investigators with the Department of Children and Families were at the home on South Caroline Street on Friday afternoon following up on a hotline complaint, and what they found led them to call police.

Officers said the conditions were deplorable; the odor made their eyes burn and their chests tighten.

According to police, Dawn Emery-Watson, 44, her two teenage daughters, and the infant lived with a half-dozen sickly cats and a dog, police said.

There were urine, dirt and fecal matter all over, and animal vomit in the kitchen, police said.

Investigators said they also found human waste and inadequate food and drink.

The 17-year-old was taken to juvenile detention and Emery-Watson was taken to jail.

The 15-year-old and 3-month-old are in the custody of other relatives.